Quick Details
The Berlin Wall was far more than just a wall. It embodied the pain of separation suffered by families and communities during the German division following World War II, and was the most potent symbol of the global struggle between communism and capitalism during the Cold War. On this guided bike tour, we let you experience the traces of the physical Wall that remain in Berlin, and we reconstruct for you this decisive and painful period of Berlin’s and Germany’s history.
Few families remained untouched by the division of the city: parents were separated from children, lovers wound up on the ‘wrong’ side of the Berlin Wall and young people wishing to escape the restrictions of East German society had to risk their lives trying to escape over it.
Your guide will tell you all about the background of the Cold War and how it led to the division of Germany, but also about life in East Germany, escape attempts and more. The fifteen kilometer route takes in many of the important sites of Berlin Wall history, including the bridge where the first checkpoint of the Wall fell at Bornholmer Strasse in 1989, the Berlin Wall memorial, the government district, and even Checkpoint Charlie, the site of a dangerous stand-off between Russian and American tanks in 1961 as well as several spectacular escape attempts.
Along the way you will encounter one of the few remaining watch towers, the death strip, and hidden stretches of the infamous ‘Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier’ as it was called in the communist East. You will also see places like Mauer Park, where old portions of the Berlin Wall & No Man’s land have been redeveloped into vibrant centers of the city’s cultural and social life.
There is a richness of stories about the Berlin Wall, life in East Berlin, the East German secret police (Stasi) and the days around 9th November 1989 when the peaceful revolution finally ended the days of the city’s division. Some of our guides experienced life in East Germany first hand, and can regale you with tales that range from the tragic to the funny to the absurd. Our guides knit together these stories and places to bring this utterly unique chapter of German and Berlin history to life before your eyes!
Our guides adapt the Berlin Wall Bike Tour to weather conditions, participants’s interests, street closures and sometimes their own preferences. Changes and deviations are possible.
The Berlin Wall Bicycle Tour starts at the Kulturbrauerei (means “Culture Brewery”) in the Prenzlauer Berg district. The brewery grounds have several entrances, the best way to get to us is through the archway at Knaackstraße 97. From the underground station Eberswalder Straße (underground line 2, three stops north of Alexanderplatz) it’s a 200-metre walk.
For private tours with your own bikes, the start can be arranged individually. Delivery of our bikes for your private bike tour is also possible for an additional charge – but this is usually only worthwhile for larger groups.
The Berlin Wall Bike Tour takes place in English, German and Dutch on several days each week during our season from March till November.
The average group size is 8 to 12 people, with a maximum of 15 guests. You can join these public Berlin Wall tours as a family, a couple, with a few friends or just by yourself.
We also offer private bicycle tours along the Berlin Wall: with these your family, friends or colleagues will enjoy the exclusive attention of one of our bike guides. Private tours can be tailored to suit individual needs, including as many breaks as you might wish for as well as detours to particular sites you might be interested in seeing.
In addition to our “main languages” English, Dutch and German, private tours can also be booked in French, Spanish or Swedish.
For the private Cold War & Berlin Wall Bike Tours, we ask for a little more advance notice when booking, to give us time to find the right guide for your group. However, you may also be lucky with a request at short notice, e.g. the day before.
Kulturbrauerei – uniquely beautiful starting point in the car-free courtyards of a 100 year old former brewery
Daily public bike tours along several routes, in English, Dutch and German
Specially trained guides – knowledgeable and entertaining team of guides
Personal touch – our bike guides are enthusiastic about Berlin and set their own priorities for individual tours
The real Berlin – in addition to Berlin sightseeing, we show aspects of everyday life in the city
Safety – our chosen bike routes favour the use of bike paths and quieter side streets
Well-maintained bike fleet – 21-speed trekking bikes, as well as backpedal or e-bikes
Ideal for families – children’s bikes in various sizes, trailers, child seats, matching helmets
Easy bike tour booking – online, by e-mail or even by phone
Customer friendly and flexible cancellation policy, currently Corona cancellations are free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the tour
After the bike ride, you can go to the museum, restaurant or beer garden on the brewery grounds